Chute conveyer.



J. E. SNELL & G. T. HAND.

. 0mm GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1909. 954,895, Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

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GHUTE GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1909.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

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J. E. SNELL & G. T. HAND. CHUTE CONVEYBR.

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UNTTED STATES FTOE.

JOSEPH E. SNELL, 0E NEWARK, AND GEORGE T. HAND, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOBS T0 DELAWARE, LACKAWANNA 5: WESTERN RAILROAD COMPANY, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION.

CI-IUTE CONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JosErI-r E; SNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, and GEORGE T. HAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Chute Oonveyers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to chutes for conveying articles or material from a higher to a lower elevation.

While the chute is primarily designed for conveying bags or packages of material from cars on a pier or trestle down into the various holds of vessels, it is nevertheless adapted for conveying bags, packages and other articles or loose material from an elevated point to a lower point or a plurality of lower points on the same or different levels.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a practical and desirable chute or conveyer which can be readily set up and arranged for expeditiously and economically conveying articles or material from an elevated point to either of several different lower points.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a chute having discharge branches ar ranged at an angle to the main portions of the chute gates of novel construction adapted to be set so as to divert the material into one or the other of the branches, as may be desired, without injuring the articles or material; also to construct the chute of detachable inclined and elbow sections which can be readily joined and arranged as required to deliver the material to different points on the same or different levels; and also to provide a plurality of receiving sections which are adapted to receive the articles or material from one or the other side of a car and have discharge ends at different elevations with either of which the adjoining portion of the chute can be connected as may be necessary for giving the chute a suitable inclination to properly convey the material, and for adjusting the chute from time to time as the vessel settles in the water in the loading operation.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of four sheets: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation showing a chute embodying the invention arranged to deliver material from a pier into the several holds of a vessel. Fig. 2 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the chute. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on a larger scale, of the pier and the receiving sections of the chute. Fig. 4; is a plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one of the elbows and adjoining sections of the chute. Fig. 6 is a transverse sect-ion thereof in line 6-6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, on a still larger scale, of the elbow section. Fig. 8 is a cross section of one of the straight sections of the chute. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the connecting and delivery portions of the chute.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

The chute or conveyer shown in the drawings is primarily designed for conveying material in bags or packages from a car on .a pier A to the several holds of a vessel B,

and comprises one or more receiving portions or sections on the pier in position to receive the material from the car, a main portion which is placed in position in the vessel and leads to the different holds thereof, and a connecting portion leading from one of the receiving sections on the pier to the upper end of the main portion in the vessel.

There are preferably three receiving sections O, O, O arranged on the pier with their lower ends projecting therefrom at different elevations one over the other. The upper receiving section C may be straight with its upper end located at a suitable point for placing the packages therein from one side of the car, while the other sections O, C are preferably curved, as shown, so as to locate their upper ends at suitable points on opposite sides of the car track for the packages to be placed therein from opposite sides of the car. The receiving sections may be secured in position on the pier in any suitable manner. The connecting portion or section D of the chute should be arranged at an in clination such that the packages will slide down the chute by gravity but will not attain sufficient speed to be injured. This is especially important in handling material such as cement in paper bags, to prevent breaking the bags. The upper end of the connecting section D is therefore attached to the lower end of one or the other of the receiving sections, depending upon the elevation of the deck of the vessel being loaded, and the connecting portion or section D can be changed from time to time from a higher to a lower receiving section as the vessel settles in the water during the loading operation to maintain substantially the same inclination of the chute. The upper end of the connecting section may be secured to the receiving section by a cross bolt or rod (Z passing through registering holes in overlapping parts at the meeting ends of the sections, or by any other suitable means enabling it to be readily attached and detached. Rollers cl are preferably provided at the lower end of the connecting section D to afford a rolling support for the same on the upper end of the delivery portion of the chute, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9.

The main portion of the chute, which is arranged in the vessel, is composed of oppositely inclined straight sections E and discharge branches F connected by elbow sections G which are provided with gates adapted to be set so as to direct the material from one inclined section to the next or into a desired discharge section. The inclined sections E, like the receiving sections and other straight portions of the chute, may be of trough shape in cross section and are preferably made of one or more U-shaped lengths or pieces of sheet metal suitably stiffened by edge angle bars and ribs riveted thereto and having their upper edges connected by straight and diagonal cross ties e and a, see Figs. 3, 4, 8 and 9.

The elbow sections, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, are each composed of side plates 9 and cross plates g, g g firmly secured together by riveting or otherwise. Each elbow section has an upper receiving portion which is arranged on the inner side of the elbow section and joins the lower end of the upper iiiclined chute section E, an upper delivery portion which is arranged on the outer side of the elbow section in line with the receiving portion, and a lower delivery portion which is inclined in a direction opposite to that of the receiving portion and joins the upper end of the next lower inclined chute section E. The cross plate 9 forms the inclined bottom of the lower delivery portion; the cross plate g forms the inclined bottom of the upper receiving portion and the curved inner wall of the elbow section and extends from the receiving portion to the lower delivery portion; and the cross plate g forms the inclined bottom of the upper delivery portion. The lower end of the inclined section leading to the elbow section preferably extends into the latter, while the elbow section extends into the upper ends of the inclined or discharge sections leading therefrom so that no upwardly facing shoulders will be formed in the chute which can impede the movement of the packages or injure them.

H, Figs. 5-7, represents the gate with which each elbow is provided for controlling the point of discharge of the material. This gate preferably consists of a curved plate 1. forming the front or lower face of the gate and a straight plate forming the upper or rear face. The two plates may be riveted together with one or more intervening spacing blocks 7L2 between them for retaining the shape of the plates. The lower end of the curved plate is hinged in the elbow section at the upper end of the bottom 9 thereof and below the plane of the upper bottom plate 9 \Vhen the gate is set in the substantially upright position, shown in full lines in Fig. 7, its curved front plate It forms an upward continuation of the lower bottom plate 9, extending above the bottom of the upper chute or section E leading to the elbow, so as to engage the packages sliding down this section and direct them downwardly through the elbow and into the next lower section E. As the plate h of the gate is curved and oins the upper end of the plate y of the elbow, which is also curved, a continuous curved surface is provided which the packages engage and on which they can slide smoothly and without shock around the corner from one inclined section E to the next. Upon turning the gate to the position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 7, its straight plate bridges the space between the plates 9 and g of the elbow so as to direct the material from the straight section E leading to the elbow into the discharge section F leading therefrom. In this position of the gate its free end rests in a depression 7L2 preferably formed in the bottom plate g so that the gate will not form a shoulder which will interfere with the movement of the packages. The gate thus mace with the opposite curved and straight surfaces and hinged as described forms, in effeet, in one position thereof a continuation of the bottom of the inclined section E leading from the elbow, and in the other position thereof a straight continuation of the bottom of the discharge section F leading from the elbow, and there is no angle or sharp bend formed in the elbow in either position of the gate which would break bags or packages descending through the chute.

I represents weighted arms attached to the opposite ends of the hinge rod of the gate. These arms afford handles for shift.- ing the gate and also serve as counterweights for retaining the gate in either of its two positions. Any other means for operating and holding the gate could. be used.

The chute composed of the detachably connected inclined elbow and discharge sections described is conveniently supported in position in the vessel by hooks or hangers K suspended from beams is bridging the several hatches of the vessel, as shown in Fig. 2. The chute can be set up in place in a vessel in a short while and readily removed therefrom when the vessel is loaded. By providing inclined and discharge sections of suitable lengths the parts can be readily connected up to suit different vessels and to discharge the material at different desired points therein.

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement adapted to deliver the packages at opposite sidesof the hatch in the lowest hold and at one side of the hatch in each of the other holds. Platforms Z are shown which support the lower ends of the discharge branches and on which the packages are delivered at a convenient height for being carried to different parts of the holds.

Fig. 1 indicates diagrammatically an arrangement adapted to discharge the packages at both sides of the hatches in the several holds or spaces of the vessel.

lVe claim as our invention:

1. In a chute conveyer, the combination with an upper inclined chute section, of a rigid elbow section adapted to be connected with the lower end of said inclined section and comprising an upper receiving portion adapted to join the delivery end of said inclined chute section, an upper delivery portion arranged in line with said receiving portion, and a lower reversely inclined delivery portion opening inwardly and adapted to join a lower inclined chute section, said upper receiving portion being connected with said lower delivery portion by a reversed inner wall and said elbow section containing a hinged gate which in one position closes the upper delivery portion and forms the outer wall of the elbow and in the other position bridges the space between and connects the upper receiving portion with the upper delivery portion, substantially as set forth.

2. In a chute conveyer, the combination with upper and lower, oppositely inclined chute sections, of an interposed rigid elbow section detachably secured to said chute sections and comprising an upper receiving portion adapted to join the delivery end of the upper chute section, an upper delivery portion arranged in line with said receiving portion, a lower delivery portion adapted to join the upper end of the lower chute section and a reversed inner wall connecting the upper receiving and lower delivery portions, and a gate arranged in said elbow section and adapted in one position to close the up per delivery portion and form the outer wall of the elbow and in the other position to bridge the space between and connect the upper receiving portion with the upper delivery portion, substantially as set forth.

3. In achute conveyer, the combination with an upper chute having an opening in its bottom and a lower chute which communicates at its upper end with said opening, of a directing gate having a front and a rear face, the front face being adapted to project above the bottom of the upper chute and direct the material from the upper chute through said opening into the lower chute and the rear face being adapted to bridge said opening and direct the material past said opening and into the delivery portion of the upper chute, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a chute conveyer, the combination with chutes extending at an angle to each other, one below the other, the lower chute connecting with an opening in the bottom of the upper chute, of a gate at the junctions of said chutes having a concave face adapted in one position of the gate to direct the material from the upper chute through the opening in the bottom thereof into the lower chute and a straight face adapted in the other position of the gate to bridge said opening in the upper chute, substantially as set forth.

5. In a chute conveyer, the combination of opposite inclined portions connected by an elbow portion, a discharge'branch leading from said elbow portion, and a gate hinged in said elbow portion and having a curved face adapted in one position of the gate to direct the material from one to the other of said inclined portions and an opposite straight face adapted in the other position of the gate to connect the inclined portion leading to the elbow portion with the discharge branch, substantially as set forth.

6. In a chute conveyer, the combination of an inclined section, an elbow section adapted to be secured to the lower end of the inclined section and having a part through which the material is received from said inclined sections and parts at an angle to each other through which the material is discharged, and a gate which is hinged in said elbow section and provided with a curved face adapted in one position of the gate to direct the material from said inclined section to one of said discharge parts of the elbow section, and with an opposite straight face adapted in another position of the gate to direct the material from said inclined section to said other discharge part of the elbow section, substantially as set forth.

7. In a chute conveyer, the combination of receiving sections leading from difierent points and having their discharge ends arranged at different elevations, a main chute comprising inclined sections arranged at an Vitness our hands in the presence of two angle to each other and directing gates at subscribing Witnesses. the junctions of said inclined sections, and JOSEPH E. SNELL. a connecting chute adapted to be attached GEORGE T. HAND.

5 to either of said receiving sections and lead- -Witnesses:

ing to the upper end of said main chute, GEORGE C. HANSEN,

substantially as set forth. WV. HULL Bo'rsrom). 

